The ability to dream is perhaps uniquely human. These dreams exist for no other purpose than fulfillment. In many cases, it is a dream, not an instinct, that determines human action. Certainly, dreams are at the heart of human life. Since one of the main purposes of literature is to reflect on this life, some dreams must be included. Whether the dream comes true depends entirely on the author and what he or she thinks about the dream coming true. Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, and Zora Neale Hurston all use certain literary elements to elaborate their theme of dream fulfillment, which is seen and portrayed differently by each: gravely, by Williams; with pessimism, by Faulkner; and with a modicum of optimism on Hurston's part. There is hardly a better adjective than "grave" to describe Williams' attitude toward dreams and their realization in his play "The Glass Menagerie." Williams does not treat dreams in a violent and harsh way, but in a sad and poignant way, using symbolism and stage lighting. Amanda's daffodil dress, an old-time elk, is an important symbol. The return of the dress, a relic of Amanda's court days, shows how much her dream of living through Laura permeates her life. The use of the "girl" dress makes it seem like Jim is visiting Amanda, rather than Laura, taking Amanda back to her happiest days (Williams 53). The clearest and most important symbol is Laura's glass unicorn. This represents her; his changes mirror his own. She only places the unicorn out in the open when Jim arrives and, not entirely intentionally, opens up to him. As Laura shares her first dance with Jim, the unicorn falls and its horn, the only thing that distinguishes and separates it from the other horses, breaks... middle of paper ......shback, Hurston notes that we can help others achieve their dreams, while achieving our own, provided that the dreams of others do not become permanent priorities. People's thoughts on dreams vary and therefore dreams are presented in different ways throughout literature. All three authors agree that achieving a dream is not guaranteed; it takes work. From there, they use different techniques to refine their opinions. In their respective novels, Hurston offers the dreamer some hope in humanity, while Faulkner mocks and tells them what to do, and Williams urges them to give up while there is still time to avoid heartbreak. Divergent opinions like these are found throughout a vast literature and provide readers with ample food for thought and a chance to reflect and form their own opinions, in this case, on the achievability of dreams..